Pirates end Lester no-hit bid in 7th, edge Cubs 2-1

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CHICAGO — Starling Marte singled with one out in the seventh inning to end Jon Lester's no-hit bid, then scored on Jung Ho Kang's double to put Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead to stay in a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Kang added an eighth-inning home run to help the Pirates beat the major league-leading Cubs for the first time in six tries this season.

Cole (4-3) allowed three hits in eight shutout innings. Mark Melancon gave up a run in a shaky ninth but held on for his 11th save in 12 chances.

Lester (4-2), who threw a no-hitter with Boston in 2008, had permitted only two walks and retired 16 straight batters before Marte's opposite-field liner to right on a changeup.

Marte stole second and scored on Kang's drive to the gap in right-center, chasing Lester after 109 pitches. He struck out nine.